‘I’m not shy of going fully mental. I like mad things’

The first two years flew past. I had my babies (triplets Czar,Anya and Diva) and was busy with television shows. Last year,the drama began when news broke that I had signed Akshay Kumar for Tees Maar Khan. After that,my husband (Shirish Kunder) and I started a production company (Three’s Company),and now within a year we are releasing our first film.

Clear up the confusion,please. Shirish wrote the script for Tees Maar Khan and he was going to direct it too. So how did the switch happen?

It was a practical decision we took. If we were to set up a production house,it made sense for me to direct. There are some scripts that Shirish has written which I can’t even dream of directing because they are visually very strong. Tees Maar Khan is my kind of a film. I loved the script when Shirish first told me about it.

What’s the zing thing in Tees Maar Khan?

It has characters never seen before in a Hindi film. The hero is crooked. The heroine is an item girl who doesn’t want to become a top heroine. The villains are conjoined twins played by Raghu Ram and Rajiv Laxman.  

Sounds like a typical Farah Khan film.

You know what? I find this strange. I’m just two films old and already I have a ‘typical’ attached to my name. I should take it as a compliment. There are some guys who do a lot of movies and they don’t have a chhappa,but it seems I already have it. Cool.  

So what do you think a typical Farah Khan film entails?

It means big screen entertainment. A big plot,well-written dialogues,great music and aesthetic production values. My films are all about taking the audience on an exciting and entertaining ride.

The cardinal rule in showbiz is that you never break a successful partnership. After Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om,everybody expected you to make your third film with Shah Rukh Khan.

Yeah,well.

You have gone on record that you can never make a film without Shah Rukh Khan.

Yes,I did. When I said that,I meant it with all my heart. But circumstances changed. I had to take a decision. It was more of a reaction on my part. Life is unpredictable. I’ve learnt never to say never again.  

Is it true that you got tired of waiting for him to sign your film and so you decided to go your way?

Not really. Only Shah Rukh and I know what happened. There was no ego involved. I had many sleepless nights before I told him. I knew that this move could go either way. I was conscious that I had made these claims of never working without him. So for me to go back on my word was a big deal. But,yes,I reacted as a friend and did what was best at that time.

Do you feel let down by Shah Rukh?

No,not anymore.

How did you break the news to him?

I went over to Mannat (Khan’s house). We chatted. He was fine with it. It was a very normal conversation. The realisation of what had transpired hit me later. Shah Rukh was very nice about the whole thing. He said he was happy for me and that I could ask him for any help in production. 

Who do you miss the most — SRK the actor or the producer?

I miss the friend the most. As producers,we have done well with Tees Maar Khan. Akshay is a fabulous actor and when you see Tees Maar Khan,you’ll see that he’s best suited for this role. It’s SRK’s friendship that I miss. We were on the same wavelength,we got each other’s sense of humour. I’m sure when we meet,it’ll all be fine and we’ll pick it up from there. 

Now that you aren’t working with SRK,have you been excluded from his inner circle? Have the party invitations to Mannat dried up?

Yes,of course. But,see,I was never a party person. I used to attend one party in six months. Now I have three kids and I’d rather see them dancing to Munni badnaam hui than attend a party. My daughters make my plaits; my son insists I should wear nail polish on my toes. I’d rather be at home with them. 

Shah Rukh Khan and you don’t even follow each other on Twitter.

No,we don’t. I guess,sometimes when you are very close,these things happen. We don’t need to follow each other on Twitter. I texted him when I saw My Name Is Khan and he replied. I know that I’m going to be Shah Rukh’s friend for 100 years. It’s just that right now we are in different spaces. 

When did you last meet him?

I haven’t seen him for six months. I also haven’t made an effort to see him,really. I met him at the hospital when we had gone to see Bobby Chawla (actor Juhi Chawla’s brother,also CEO of Red Chillies). He was good to me. I’ve been busy with my film and he’s been in and out for Ra.One. Moviemaking is tough. When we make a movie,it is our world. It’s like the Bigg Boss house where you are cut off from everyone else.  

Was Shah Rukh Khan approached for Tees Maar Khan?

By me? No. When Shirish and I decided that I’ll be directing Tees Maar Khan,the first person I called was Akshay Kumar. 

The world you create in your films is extremely Bollywoodised,full of film references. Is it conscious?

Shirish once said to me that even if you make a movie seriously,people will say that it’s a spoof! He says I can get away with anything because of the kind of movies I make. Consciously,I’m not trying to Bollywoodise my films. I’m unapologetic as a filmmaker. I’m not shy of going fully mental. I like mad things. I have grown up on Hindi films,so I guess those influences will always come across in my movies.  

But can you create a new world? Can you make a film without a Bollywood reference?

Yes,of course,I can.  

If you have to choose between commercial and critical success,what will you opt for?

If I get both,nothing like it. If it is one or the other,it has to be commercial success. I’d any day have one billion people like my movie than just five critics.

How do you react when people say that you are the only successful woman director? Do you think direction is gender-defined?

I take offence. An actor or actress can be gender-defined,but technicians don’t need to be categorised. I find it strange when I’m asked to participate in photo-shoots or seminars with other women directors who are clearly not making the kind of movies I am. Be it commercially or creatively,all of us are making different films. So why put me in the same box? 

So you are competing with the boys.

If you have to put me in a box with someone,it should be with other successful directors. Though,honestly,I think I’m in a box of my own. That said,if my being a woman sets an example and more girls make movies,I’m all for it.  

Is there any competition with your brother Sajid Khan who is also a filmmaker?

Not at all. I can never compete with Sajid.  

Do you get upset when his films are berated by critics?

Of course,I do. I react as a protective sister. Even he gets upset. I don’t want to get into whether the criticism is right or wrong. But I do feel that sometimes our critics have double standards. They berate a film by one filmmaker and the next week a similar film by another filmmaker gets four stars. As filmmakers,we are competitive and we get upset if others get better reviews.  

How strong is this competitive streak? Looking back at Om Shanti Om,you and SRK fought a hard war with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Saawariya.

Those days were fun. Why lie? But,yes,it became a war between Sony and Eros and between SRK and Sanjay. In retrospect,I think it was unnecessary,but it was also fun. Now Sanjay and I have made up. He sends me khandvi and I send him chicken pulao. We don’t sit in each other’s laps but we are in touch. 

I asked Bhansali this and now I’m asking you too. Would you change the release date of Om Shanti Om so that the war could be averted?

Look,I was happy with the release date as it was November 9,and nine is my lucky number. It was also the Diwali weekend. But yes,if we had got a solo release,our opening could have been bigger than what it was.

As a choreographer,you’ve already had a hit in Munni badnaam hui (Dabangg) and now you’re ready with Sheila ki jawani (Tees Maar Khan). Which is your favourite?

Now see,a war between two fictional women! Who are Munni and Sheila? They are both my friends. I’ll call them both over for tea.  

You’ve been accorded the status of a female Manmohan Desai. Happy with the title?

I’m fine with it. Nasir Hussain and Vijay Anand are the biggest influences on my filmmaking. But now that I think about it,Manmohan Desai’s films have become cults. Amar Akbar Anthony is super fun. No complaints really.  

Remember the first Hindi film you saw?

Bees Saal Baad. I was two. I remember there was a panja that came on screen and I would start crying.  

Name some contemporaries whose films you like.

I’m sure a lot of people have promise. I’m sure there are a lot of good directors. 

You’re hedging. Come on,what’s this? Main apni favourite hoon moment or what?

(Laughs) That’s a good line. Well,I like Raju (Rajkumar Hirani) and Karan (Johar). My likes are more movie-oriented. I might not like every movie of a director. Like I loved Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai,Khosla Ka Ghosla,A Wednesday,Jab We Met. Some directors can surprise you. Like Anurag Kashyap. I wasn’t expecting a Dev.D from him after No Smoking. 

Three movies you always go back to.

Singing in the Rain,Sholay and Satya. Surprisingly,some of my favourite movies are made by Ramu (Ram Gopal Varma). I love Rangeela too.  

You had announced Happy New Year with SRK. Is that deal still on?

Too much time has passed since that idea occurred to me. It might not hold good anymore.

Cards on the table. Will you ever work with SRK again?

Like I said,I’ll never say never again. SRK is a dream actor for any director. Anyone who works with him is lucky.